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Republic Polytechnic
Schools

RP SBZ student's passion for fighting financial crime earns ministerial recognition

Schools

School of Business

1 December 2025

Jeffersen's dedication to anti-money laundering work led him from the OCBC Ignite programme to a dialogue session with Minister of State Alvin Tan, who personally thanked him for his contributions to AML efforts.

Five people in red "#OCBC Cares" shirts pose in front of a red "OCBC" logo against a textured wall.

For School of Business (SBZ) student Jeffersen, a fascination with the 1MDB scandal sparked an enduring interest in anti-money laundering (AML) work.

"My interest in anti-money laundering sparked when I first heard about the 1MDB scandal," reveals Jeffersen. "I was fascinated by the working relationship between government agencies and banks, so I became curious about how banks operate, especially in the AML space."

His passion drove him to join OCBC Ignite, an accelerated banking career programme designed with all five polytechnics to prepare students and strengthen polytechnic graduate employment in the finance sector.

As a CARM Analyst, he assisted teams managing exits and screening processes for money laundering and terrorism financing cases, from analysing client profiles to informing decisions on account terminations.

Jeffersen's dedication caught the attention of his lecturer, Mr Joel Sim, who selected him as a panellist for a dialogue session with Minister of State for National Development and Trade & Industry, Mr Alvin Tan, at the IBF Financial Fiesta 2025 in July. The Minister personally thanked him for his contributions to AML work.

"Thanks to the RP education and the OCBC Ignite programme, both have given me the confidence to work in dynamic working environments," says the Catholic Junior College alumnus. "I gained insights into what a potential career in banking would be, and the skills I gained are transferable as I enter the working world."

Set to graduate next year, Jeffersen has his sights set on contributing to Singapore's security and governance, whether through AML, civil service, or the Army. "What motivates me across all these paths is the desire to play a role in supporting Singapore's stability and progress," he explains.

Interested in pursuing a career in banking and finance? The Diploma in Business offers three majors including Banking & Finance, designed to give you a competitive edge in today's business world.

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